UK PM Andy Burnham Likely to Visit India Soon; $120 Billion Trade Target in Focus

Andy Burnham India Visit Trade Ties: British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is keen to visit India, and a trip could take place soon, Acting British High Commissioner to India Ben Mellor said on Thursday (October 29, 2026), pointing to the growing relationship between the two countries. If approved, this would be Burnham's first official visit to India after taking charge of the president's office on July 20 this year.

Speaking to PTI, Mellor said Burnham had expressed his desire to visit India during a conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi shortly after taking office. “I know that Prime Minister Andy Burnham is very keen to come to India,” Mellor said. He added that Burnham had conveyed this directly to Modi when the two leaders spoke after the British Prime Minister took office. “I'm sure we'll be able to see that happen soon,” he said.

India-UK Trade Ties

Speaking about economic ties between India and the UK, Mellor expressed confidence that the two countries would exceed their target of doubling bilateral trade as both economies continue to grow. India and the UK aim to double bilateral trade to around $120 billion by 2030. The two countries have also moved forward with a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) intended to make trade and investment easier.

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Mellor said the agreement had come into force 100 days ago, although it was signed just over a year earlier. Since then, the two countries have already seen new deals worth £12 billion, he added. “I have every confidence that as the UK and the Indian economies grow, we will surpass the target of doubling trade between our two countries,” Mellor said.

He also stressed that the UK remained welcoming to Indian businesses and investors. According to him, Indian investors had been the second-largest source of new investment projects in Britain over the past several years. Mellor said the FTA had further improved conditions for businesses looking to invest, trade and work across the two countries.

He pointed to a recent visit by seven UK mayors and one local authority, accompanied by a business delegation representing more than 200 businesses. The delegation visited India to explore partnerships and business opportunities, he said.

UK Budget and Cost-of-Living Pressures

Mellor also discussed the UK government's latest Budget, saying the measures announced on Wednesday were intended to make the British economy more predictable and attractive to investors. Asked how the Budget would help households facing rising living costs, he said Chancellor John Healey had announced measures to provide relief, particularly from high energy bills. “Most households in the UK will benefit from 100 pounds off their energy bills next year,” Mellor said.

He added that the Budget sought to strengthen the economy through strict fiscal rules while addressing economic pressures arising from the conflict in West Asia.

UK Prepares for Future Economic Shocks

Asked whether Britain had enough financial room to deal with another global economic crisis, Mellor said the government's plans to reduce borrowing would help lower borrowing costs and strengthen its ability to respond to future emergencies. He said the government had set aside around £15 billion in financial headroom to deal with potential crises. “There is also a ready headroom of some 15 billion pounds to deal with any crisis that may come along in the future,” he said.

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Mellor expressed confidence that the Budget measures would help put the UK economy on a stable footing, despite uncertainty over future global developments. “I think we can be very confident that the steps the Chancellor announced yesterday have put the UK economy on very stable footing whatever the future holds,” he added.